ACE Nursery
GoodBirth to 8+Open for decades
A day nursery in Derby for children from birth to 8+, open 07:30 to 17:00, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in September 2023. Open since 1999, with 74 places.
What you might pay
This setting does not publish its fees, and no national dataset holds them. This is what childcare costs across the council, as a starting point for the call.
What childcare usually costs in Derby
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Derby from the Department for Education's 2025 provider survey. No national data holds what an individual nursery charges, so ring and ask.
Places, hours and the day
Who they take, when they are open, and what a day there includes.
Where it is
DE23 8DHWhat the inspector found
One grade is one visit. A run of them tells you whether it has been good for years or has only just got there.
Ofsted inspector, 7 September 2023 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Staff warmly greet children and parents as they arrive at nursery. They quickly engage in conversation and offer support as children hang up their belongings and self-register. This helps children to feel settled and calm as they start the day. Staff spend dedicated time with children when they first start, sensitively providing reassurance and offering experiences that engage them. This means children feel secure as they receive care and attention which is tailored to their individual needs.
Children in the baby room delight in staff getting down at their level and joining in with their games. Effective interactions help children to further develop their skills and gain the most from their play.
Staff are good role models and consistently embed expectations for children's behaviour. Children learn to be kind and treat each other with respect. They willingly offer help to one another. For example, at mealtimes, children pass around water jugs and lend a hand if they see that a friend needs help to cut up their food. When children are eating, staff skilfully promote their social and communication skills. On a very hot day, children recognise when they are thirsty and need a drink. Staff extend children's vocabulary by introducing the word
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- review the role of the key person to further support the individual care needs of younger children.
- 7 September 2023Good
- 7 December 2017Good
- 6 July 2017Inadequate
Rated Good or Outstanding at 2 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for ACE Nursery
- What it costs
- Funded hours
- Youngest age taken
- Meals
- Nappies
- Waiting list
No dataset holds any of this. Two parents telling us the same thing puts it on the page for whoever looks next.
What to ask them
None of this is in any national dataset and this setting has not published it, which is exactly why it is worth asking.
- What does it cost, all in? What is on top: meals, nappies, late pick-up, and what happens if you are late.
- Can I use my funded hours here? Whether they stretch them over the year, and the minimum days you have to book.
- Is there a place for my child's age? Baby rooms fill first and waiting lists are common.
- Who would my child's key person be? And how long have the staff been there. No dataset holds this and it matters more than anything above.
- Can I visit at a busy time? Mid-morning on a weekday tells you far more than an empty room after hours.
Day nurseries within a couple of miles
This one is first. Tick it and one or two others to see them side by side.